Extension operator for light switch



Dec. 29, 1959 K. K. JO ES 2,919,334

EXTENSION OPERATOR FOR LIGHT SWITCH Filed May 5, 1958 INVENTOR. KEMPER KJQ/VES Fla 3 5 ATTORNEY Unite States FatentO 2,919,334 EXTENSIONOPERATOR FOR LIGHT SWITCH Kemper K. Jones, Akron, Ohio Application May5, 1958, Serial No. 733,199

H 7 Claims. or. 200-172 This invention relates to devices for actuatinglight or other electrical switches, and in particular has reference toan extension type of actuator switch that permits operation of theswitches by a small child, for example.

In the known prior art, extension actuators of this general type havegenerally been of a type wherein an extension rod was provided with aslot that was received around the switch button. This rod was thenmounted in a housing so that upon movement of the same, the position ofthe switch button was changed to accordingly turn the electricalconnection either on or off, as the case may be. A representative patentshowing this type of construction is United States Patent 2,668,456,issued February 9, 1954, to J. V. Meistrell.

While actuators of this general type are satisfactory in certain idealinstallations, it has been found that the same are prone to jam orotherwise bind during usage. Specifically, it has been found that incases where the switchbutton is either oversize or undersize, thatimproper functioning of the device will result, since it is apparentthat the actuating rod employed must move towards and from the wallsurface during actual use thereof.

It has been found that the above disadvantages of the known prior artcan be obviated by providing a separate cap or cover for the actuatingbutton of the switch involved. The use of such a cap or covering willaccordingly render the size of the switching member uniform.Additionally, it has been found that if the actuating rod that isemployed to move the switch member between various positions is engagedwith this cover cap under a rolling or sliding type of contact, thatimproved results will occur since the above type of construction willcompletely eliminate the conventional binding that frequently occurs inthe prior art devices.

It has been further discovered that the overall usability of the devicecan be greatly enhanced if the same is provided with an electricaloutlet as a component part thereof, with this electrical outlet beingprovided with wires that can be attached to the switch box, per se, soas to permit energization of the same upon actuation of the switch. Inthis manner, and assuming the device was desired for use in a childsroom, a night light could be attached in the outlet and the connectionsarranged so that when the wall switch was in the off position, the nightlight would be energized.

It accordingly becomes the principal object of this invention to providean improved type of extension actuator for wall switches that ischaracterized by a free and'easy type of operation so that the same canbe continuously and repetitively used without the occurrence of bindingor other interfering forces being present.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an extensionactuator of the type described that is characterized by the presence ofindependent outlet means associated therewith, with the independentoutlet means operating in timed co-action with the primary switch meansupon operation of the device.

These and other objects of the invention will become 2 more apparentupon a reading of the following brief specification, considered andinterpreted in the light of the accompanying drawings.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the invention installed on awall surface.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the lines 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views taken on the lines 3-3 and 44 ofFigure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the improved cap.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Figures land 2thereof, the improved extension operator, generally designated by. thenumeral 10, isv shown mounted on a wall surface W; the arrangement beingsuch that upon rotation of aturning knob 11, the switch member S will bemoved between the full and chain-dotted line position of Figure 2.

Considering first the structure of the actuating member 10, it will beseen that the same includes an elongate housing 20, having a front wall21, top and bottom walls 22 and 23, and opposed side walls 24 and 25,with the projecting ends of the wall surfaces 22, 24 and 25 preferablylying in a common plane so as to permit flush reception of the housing20 against the Wall surface W as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In thisregard, the front surface 21 is provided with the usual apertures 26, 26through which bolts or screws 27, 27 can be received to facilitateattachment of the housing 20 With respect to the wall W, it beingunderstood that the spacing and location of these apertures .is suchthat the ends of the bolts- 27, 27 will be received in the conventionaltapped apertures provided in the switch member S. In addition to theaforementioned openings, the front wall 21 is further provided with arectangular opening 28 within which the switch member S can be received,while additional openings 29 and 29a permit reception of the outlet 30and shaft 31, with the outlet 30 having the usual ears 30a, 30a thatfacilitate attachment of the member 30 to wall section 21 in knownmanner. 7

To the end of mounting the actuating portion of the member 10 withrespect to the housing 20, the lowermost portion of the wall surface 21is shown provided with a strap member 34 (see Figure 3) with this strapmember being attached, as by weld 35, to the internal face of the wallsection 21 and with the strap 34 being off-set throughout itslongitudinal length so as to have an end portion 36 that is spaced fromthe wall 21, as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. In thismanner, one end of shaft 31 can be rotatably journaled within anappropriate aperture of portion 36 and the conventional turning knob 11can be mounted in known fashion on the opposed axial end thereof.

Also received around the shaft 31 is a flat disc 38 that is illustratedas being circular in plan so as to permit the lowermost end 40a ofactuating rod 40 to be eccentrically pinned therto by pin 41 (see Figure3). In this manner, rotation of knob 11 will result in substantiallyup-anddown movement (see Figure 3) of the actuating rod 40, with the rod40 being maintained adjacent wall section 21 h3g1 a cross-strap 39 thatis secured to the plate 34 by screw 3 a.

Referring next to Figure 4 for a consideration of the co-action betweenthe actuating rod 40 and the switch means S, it will be seen that theupper end of rod 40 is provided with a pair of right-angle rod members41 and 42 that extend normally of the rod 40 in parallelism with eachother. Surrounding these rod members 41 and 42, are sleeves 43 and 44respectively, with these sleeves preferably being of nylon, vinyl, orother low-friction plastic materialso as to freely turn on the-shafts 41and .42. As shown in Figure 4, the outboard ends of the may be providedbetween the shafts and sleeves received thereon, so as to facilitatefree rotational movemeutof the same.

In addition to the aforementioned component parts, the housing'20' alsodefines a transverse plate 47-'that' ex.- tends, as best shown in Figure4 of-the'drawings,between opposed wall surfaces 24 and 25, with thebaseportion 48 of this plate being spaced from the Wall W by legs 49 and 4%,as shown in Figure 2. 'Anopening'48a is'provided in base section 48 fortl'iepurpose of accommodating the switch means'S, with the entiremember47 preferably being securedto housing "20 by welds 46,46.

Referring next to Figure for a detailed consideration of the cover cap50, it will be seen that the which of generally hollowed shape,conforming in contour to the three-dimensional outline er theconventional switch member 8, and in this manner, the same maybetelescoped over the same as shown in Figure 2.

Accordingly, the switch member 50 is shown'as having wall surfacesthereof arranged in rectangular form to provide a surrounding enclosurefor the switch S with end wall 51 limiting the extent of telescoping ofthe member 50 on switch S. Additionally, and for the purpose ofretaining the cover 50 in place during use thereof, the opposed wallsections 52 and 53 thereof are provided with a series of projections 55,55, with these projections being received behind the base section 48 ofplate member 47 in assembled condition of the device. Additionally, andas best shown in Figure 5, certain of the wall sections are providedwith slits 56, 56, with such slits being shown provided on the wallsections 52 and 53. In this fashion, the cover can be spread over theswitch S during telescoping and the inherent recovery properties of thesame will cause a tight frictional fit between the cover 50 and switchS. While two such wall sections are shown slit in the preferredembodiment, it is, of course, to be understood that additional slitscould be provided in the remaining wall sections, if desired, or thatthe slits could be eliminated iffit wasnot of consideration.

Referring next to Figures 1 and 2 fora consideration of the outlet 30,it sulhces to say that the same is of conventional construction and isprovided with lead lines 60 and 61 that respectively connect withcontacts 62 and "63, that are provided on the switch means. In thisregard, the connections can be arranged so that upon movement of theswitch S to its on position, the switch 30 will be de-energized and viceversa.

In use or operation of the improved device, it will first be assumedthat the component parts of the actuating device have been assembled asindicated in the drawing. In this regard and in order to use the same ona conventional wall switch, for example, the user merely removes theconventional cover plate provided on the wall surface and first makes aconnection between the member 30 and the contact points 62 and 63 of theswitch. When this electrical connection has been made, it is merelynecessary that the cover 56' be slipped over the switch S and telescopedthereon to the position of Figure 2. At this point, the actuating armmay be operated so that the sleeves 43 and 44 are passed over the cover50 and when this has been accomplished, the entire housing can be laidflush against the wall and attached thereto by positioning of the bolts27, 27 in the apertures of the switch means. At this time, the device isready for use and it is believed apparent that upon an approximate9G-degree rotation of the knob 11, that the sleeves 43, 44 will be movedvertically of housing 20 and wall W to cause an equivalent movement ofthe switch S to the chain-dotted line position of Figure 2. During thismovement, the sleeves 43 and 44 will roll against the external surfaceof cover 50 and it will also be noted that the arm 40 is free to float acertain amount with respect to the distance thereof from the wallsurface 21 so that all possibility of binding will be eliminated.Rotation of the knob 11 in the opposite direction will then return theswitch S to the full-line position.

To operate the switch 36, it is merely necessary that an appliance orlight beplugged therein so that upon movement of the switch S to itsoff" position, for example, the switch 39 will be energized to light anight light.

It will be seen from the preceding paragraphs how there has beenprovided a new and improved type of extension actuator for electricalswitches. Specifically, it has been shown how the presence of a floatingactuating arm greatly improves the operating conditions of thedevicesince it permits the arm to adjust in spacing from the wall andthereby avoids binding, with the result that a trouble-free type ofoperation is at all times present. It has been further shown how the useof the improved and novel cover cap insures that the device can beadapted to all types of switches regardless of the size of the switchingmember, with thecover cap rendering the switching means uniform in allinstallations.

While a full and complete disclosure of the invention has been set forthin accordance with the dictates of the patent statutes, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not intended to be so limited. Forexample, it is believed apparent that the device could function withoutthe presence of the auxiliary switch 30, and similarly, that other meanscould be employed for obtaining reciprocal movement of the actuating rod40.

Accordingly, modifications of the invention may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit hereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: p

1. A switch operating mechanism for use with a Walltype switch having aprojecting pivotal switch member; comprising a cover cap received oversaid switch memher; a housing receivable against said wall in coveringrelationship to said switch and having an opening therein through whichsaid switch member can operatively project; and an actuating arm carriedby said housing in shiftable relationship therewith; means on saidhousing spacing said arm from said wall; and at least one sleeve membercarried by said arm in rolling contact with the external surface of saidcover cap whereby said switch member will move between various switchingpositions upon movement of said actuating arm.

2. A switch operating mechanism for use with a walltype switch having aprojecting pivotal switch member; comprising a cover cap received oversaid switch member; a housing receivable against said wall in coveringrelationship to said switch and having an opening therein through whichsaid switch member can operatively project; and means for preventingdisengagement of said cover cap from said switch member when saidhousing is in place on said wall; an actuating arm carried by saidhousing in shiftable relationship therewith; a transverse plate on saidhousing spacing said arm from said wall; and at least one sleeve membercarried by said arm in rolling contact with the external surface of saidcover cap whereby said switch member will move between various switchingpositions upon movement of said actuating arm.

3. A switch operating mechanism for use with a walltype switch having aprojecting pivotal switch member; comprising a cover cap received oversaid switch member; a housing receivable against said wall in coveringrelationship to said switch and having an opening therein through whichsaid switch member can operatively project;

and an actuating arm carried by said housing in shiftable relationshiptherewith; a transverse plate on said housing spacing said arm from saidwall; and at least one sleeve member carried by said arm in rollingcontact with the external surface of said cover cap whereby said switchmember will move between various switching positions upon movement ofsaid actuating arm.

4. A switch operating mechanism for use with a walltype switch having aprojecting pivotal switch member, comprising a cover cap received oversaid switch memher; a housing receivable against said wall in coveringrelationship to said switch and having an opening therein through whichsaid switch member can operatively project; an actuating arm carried bysaid housing; a transverse plate on said housing spacing said arm fromsaid wall; and at least one sleeve member carried by said arm in rollingcontact with the external surface of said cover cap; and means foroscillating said actuating arm longitudinally of said housing wherebysaid switch member will move between switching positions uponoscillation of said actuating arm.

5. A switch-operating mechanism for use with a walltype switch providedwith contact points and having a projecting pivotal switch memberoperable between on and 01f positions, comprising a cover cap receivedover said switch member; a housing receivable against said wall incovering relationship to said switch and having an opening thereinthrough which said switch member can operatively project; an actuatingarm carried by said housing; a transverse plate on said housing spacingsaid arm from said wall; and at least one sleeve member carried by saidarm and being in rolling contact with said cover cap; an auxiliaryoutlet carried by said housing and electrically connected with saidcontacts of said switch; means for preventing disengagement of saidcover cap from said switch member when said housing is in place on saidwall, and means for oscillating said actuating arm longitudinally ofsaid housing whereby said switch means will be moved between said offand on positions thereof upon said oscillation.

6. The device of claim 5, further characterized by the fact that saidauxiliary outlet is alternately energized and de-energized duringoscillation of said arm.

7. A cover cap for the pivotal switching member of a. wall-type switch,comprising an elongate hollow member open at one end for telescopicreception over said switching member; said open end having at least oneprojecting flange extending outwardly therefrom and the walls of saidmember are provided with slits that extend longitu dinally from saidopen end to accomodate tight frictional contact between said cap andsaid member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,235,397 Thomas July 31, 1917 2,409,022 Diedring Oct. 8, 1946 2,440,943Gonsett et a1 May 4, 1948 2,668,456 Meistrell Feb. 9, 1954 2,726,303Berndsen Dec. 6, 1955 2,807,692 Leslie Sept. 24, 1957

